In Brief
The National Campaign Committee for Construction Workers challenged the utilization of cess collected under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996. The Supreme Court found that while collection had increased significantly from ₹25,477 crores to ₹37,482 crores, utilization remained inadequate. The Court held that civil society participation through NGOs, counsel for the petitioner, and auditing bodies is essential for ensuring collected funds benefit migrant construction workers who are economically vulnerable. The Court directed a comprehensive meeting of the Monitoring Committee to address gaps in education, pensions, shelter, health, and ESI coverage, emphasizing government accountability and cooperative engagement with stakeholders."
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